When the sun goes down, you figure it’s time to bring up what’s on your mind. The sky's already a dull blue, a few stars making themselves known. The wind's grown cooler, piercing your body until you choose to wear a jacket and zip it closed. You take one last look at the changes around you, tap Sans’s shoulder when you're done, and make him face you, phone in hand.
“Want to take a picture together? The new locket you gave me still has space for another one.”
He stops staring at the Echo flowers from afar, these glowing brighter with the nightfall. Plenty more have grown since your last visit, these serving as the main and sole lighting source for Toriel's garden.
“Sure,” he answers, grinning. “Don’t really need to ask me twice, though -- We're married, and we're even on our first honeymoon right now, (Y/N), ya don’t need to ask over lil’ stuff like that.”
Surprised to hear him use that term, you hold back a smile, lock arms with him, and lead the way towards the lake. Countless streaks of moonlight seep through the flora surrounding the water, welcoming you in. “You know what that means?” you ask, tugging at his arm for him to sit down.
He replies with a ‘yup’ and lays on the grass after you do, shoulder brushing with yours as he shifts to get a better look at the lake. “My kind doesn’t really call it that, but we have somethin’ similar to this -- Soul bonding, if I remember right. It's what happens when you find what some call your 'soulmate'. But it ain't like that person's set in stone or anythin' like that. It all just depends on the path you take and how you grow."
You close your eyes and bask under the presence of the moonlight along with the ruffling of trees. Serenity washes over you, increasing as you keep on listening to the monster, asking more over his own traditions and how they differed from yours. “I. . . I remember reading about it in that book you gave me. Isn’t that something way more rare and complex? Both souls have to be in harmony for that to happen, don’t they?”
Sans laughs as he jabs your side, winking afterwards. “Still remember, huh? I’m flattered, pal.”
“I learned a lot from it -- Like how I can do this now!” You follow up to those words by placing a hand over his ribcage, magic sparking between it and your fingers. Your eyes close as you try to channel your idea, smiling when you both see and feel it work. “Did you feel that? Tell me what, if you did.”
He looks undoubtedly humoured with your question, though he doesn’t comment on it. The monster avoids your gaze while embarrassment replaces his posture, made more stiff the longer he stays that way. “It felt nice,” he replies, placing a hand over his chest. “Toasty and light -- Kinda like when ya drink somethin’ hot and it just warms you up.”
“. . .Is that similar to what you said? Soul bonding, I mean.”
“Pretty close. Only we'd both have to do it at the same time.”
The moment ends, leaving you be with more questions than answers. You try not to let them cloud your mind, instead hoping to enjoy tonight by observing the lake and how much your surroundings had changed since you last visited Toriel’s garden. There’s a lot more flowers now; not to mention, there’s more trees covering the sky, along with more butterflies and hummingbirds flying about.
“Remember the first time we made it here?” you ask, leaning your head against his. "You invited Faust and me over -- Frisk and Undyne were there, too."
His gaze breaks away from the lake and flickers to your side, recognition flashing on his irises. “I remember,” he states, facing back to his previous point of interest. “We went to see the Echo flowers, and then we went to see that sunflower field. Time flies on moments like that -- I swear I still remember how surreal everything felt, tutorin' Faust, getting to know ya, and then ending up like this after all that."
A drop of water lands on your nose, cold and thin. Sans looks up at the sky at the same time you do, a wall of clouds blanketing the stars. More of them continue to fall -- until it becomes a light drizzle, refreshing to the touch. You both stand up and seek shelter under one of the nearby trees, surroundings growing calmer than before.
“Wanna bring another sunflower home? They’re blooming lots this year.”
You think his question over twice before answering, not wanting to disrupt Toriel’s garden, yet not wanting to turn down his offer, either. There’s a hint of hope present in his tone, though he tries to cover it up with his usual demeanor. “You’re not just using that as an excuse, are you?” you tease, grinning at him. “Bet you’re just a lot more interested in coming up with bad flower puns again. You even flirted with me way back then!”
“I did?” he retorts, letting out a laugh. “Thought I was just being friendly with ya, pal -- Totally didn’t think of it as a date at one point.”
“You’re so corny.” You hold back a smile, hoping to make your comment seem more stern.
“Call me what ya want, but I would’ve gone with sappy.”
As rain continues to fall, you stay close to his side and take a second to look at your phone, time already marking eight.
While it wasn't the most typical way to celebrate after the makeshift wedding, it was the only idea you could come up with. Traveling far just to have your honeymoon was far from a plan at the moment, not only in the sense that you were barely just getting used to your new life, but that the idea of planning big felt overwhelming.
One of the numerous things you liked about your new life, partner, and family was how simple everything was. There wasn't any need for drama or grandeur -- Simply having Mettaton as your boss and having confronted various antagonists to get where you were now was enough for a lifetime. Maybe later, you could think about a bigger way to celebrate, but -- for now -- simply cuddling with the monster next to you while watching rain fall on the lake was enough. Seeing Sans content by your side and Faust grow up healthier and happier was enough, and you feeling the same was enough.
At that thought, you hold the monster closer, a toothy smile showing when he looks at you, confusion in his.
"What's up?"
You try to hold back your urge, yet to now avail.
"The sky," you answer, a laugh interrupting it when he breaks away from your hold.
"Think you can get back at me, huh?" he retorts, snickering. "Remind me to visit those sunflowers before we go."
You grab his arm and pull him back with you, smile remaining even when he tries not to budge with your actions. "Kidding, kidding." You hold back another laugh, seeing him stop you with the use of his magic, blue surrounding the hand you placed over his arm. "I'm just really happy," you add, keeping your hold on him. "Now let go so I can-"
Sans pulls you instead, bringing you into his hold as he rests his face against your neck. Then, he kisses your ear lobe, hugging you tighter afterwards.
"I'm. . . I'm really happy, too, (Y/N)."